1.  Open Syllables

• Ends in one vowel; the vowel sound is long.
• Vowels:   a (apron),   i (iris),   o (open),   u (uniform, flu),   e (equal).
• Y as a vowel:   y (cry),   y (baby).

2.  Goals of Instruction: Read and Spell

• Closed syllables.
• Vowel-Consonant-e  syllables.
• Open syllables:   why, she, hi, flu, yo-yo.
• Open plus Closed and/or VCe syllables:   vacant,   polite,   regulate.

3.  Additional Considerations

• Prefix:   re  combined with Closed, VCe, or Open syllables only (refill, remake, reply).
• Suffixes:   y, ly   (Spelling: consonant doubling (sunny) and silent e (lately).
• Change Y: when a root word ends in a y preceded by a consonant, change y to i before a suffix, except ing   (studies, studied, studying).
  If the root word ends in a y preceded by a vowel, just add the suffix   (plays, played, playing).
• Schwa: a phonetic variant or reduced vowel sound similar to (but not equal to) the short u sound:   wagon, seven, alone, compliment, extra.